Alexa Washington, a basketball player, sits in a large black medical chair to exercise her leg. A man in a grey shirt stands next to her and looks at a computer screen. There is a poster with many small pictures on the wall behind them.

Alexa Washington’s Recovery Journey

By: Ryan Luke

July 29th, 2024, a day that seems insignificant to most people, was the start of an 18-month long road to recovery for one University of North Florida Women’s Basketball players, Aexa Washington. Washington, who was fresh off a strong Freshman season—where she was named to the 2024 All-ASUN Freshman Team—was playing pickup basketball in the off-season when she suddenly tore her Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL).  

Washington said that initially the injury took a significant mental toll. But in the months that followed, it also taught her a valuable lesson about how many things she had taken for granted. A discovery that the talented player used to find her purpose and motivate the next part of her life, which would be in the training room and not on the court. 

In this new setting, Washington prioritized her mental health and began viewing herself as more than just an athlete. To support this, she began journaling and talking to those around her that had dealt with similar setbacks.  

However, even with all of the support surrounding her and her best efforts to not soak in the negatives of the situation, fear still lingered in the back of her head. This fear was different though, as Washington wasn’t worried that she would tear her ACL again, but rather that she would not be the same person as before.  

When she finally returned to the court, Washington made a concerted effort to give herself grace, let her mind be free, and to remember to breathe. The result of this being Alexa Washington reinventing herself and reaching new heights as she leads the UNF Ospreys in both minutes played and assists.  

All of which is proof that not even a strenuous, year-and-a-half long recovery process can keep her from the game she loves.